tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post110384107632886082..comments2018-08-20T05:00:22.155-06:00Comments on Green Home Building and Sustainable Architecture: Thoughts on a Texas Energy ConferenceKelly Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02361024047813227599noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-45869289560125992902009-03-04T11:18:00.000-07:002009-03-04T11:18:00.000-07:00Kelly,Please check us out at www.nuenergyalternati...Kelly,<BR/>Please check us out at www.nuenergyalternatives.com We have an inexpensive way for a homeowner to use ambient hot attic air to heat their incoming water into their hot water tank. Our product is a ridge vent that harnesses the heat/radiation as it leaves through the ridge of the roof. It's less expensive than traditional solar panels and can not be seen from the street.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-36427353718041691452008-02-11T14:45:00.000-07:002008-02-11T14:45:00.000-07:00In response to the questions posted above by Kim T...In response to the questions posted above by Kim T.:<BR/><BR/>1) To conserve energy and dollars you will want a well-insulated building that encloses lots of thermal mass (masonry materials). If this can be done either below grade or as a bermed structure, so much the better.<BR/><BR/>2) There are some national directories that might help you locate green professionals: <BR/>http://directory.greenbuilder.com/search.gbpro<BR/><BR/>http://goodtobegreen.com/SearchAce.aspx<BR/><BR/>http://southwest.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/directories/<BR/><BR/>http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/<BR/><BR/>3) Even in Texas it can get cold in the winter, so I would suggest a modest amount of passive solar heating potential from south-facing glass, which is well shaded from the spring/summer/fall sun with natural overhangs or thermal curtains. This usually means orienting the building with the long axis extending east/west.Kelly Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02361024047813227599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-10869708677494249432008-02-11T13:26:00.000-07:002008-02-11T13:26:00.000-07:00Mr. Hart:I work for a non-profit about to build a ...Mr. Hart:<BR/><BR/>I work for a non-profit about to build a large facility that will house homeless people and read w/extreme interest your thoughts about building green, a topic I have repeatedly put on the table for my superiors. Of course anything that will lower the large consumption of energy, thereby lowering cost of running this facility and enabling this entity to better facilitate its programming and budget are great considerations, so if you will indulge me, I have a couple of questions:<BR/><BR/>1) If you were in our shoes, what green building suggestions would you make? In other words, which/what green building incentives offer the greatest savings for the least outpay? And do you have any additional suggestions to its/their implementation(s)?<BR/><BR/>2) Can you suggest a means for finding/locating experts who would do a good job in building green as opposed to those companies who want to log up the experience so they can advertise they do this. We cannot really afford to be a company's learning experience.<BR/><BR/>3) Since South/Central Texas is so hot, how would YOU orient a building so to optimize heating/cooling bills. The facility we are considering would have a central hub and extending 'arms' or wings, however, since we have a say in the building's design, I was thinking that this conceptual design still could be oriented to take the rising/setting sun into consideration. For instance, we could plan so that all bathroom facilities were on the southern/northern exposure side. What is your view on this?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your help.<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/>Kim T<BR/>GrantwriterKim T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05298101969652574753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-1154530987460879332006-08-02T09:03:00.000-06:002006-08-02T09:03:00.000-06:00In response to the above comment about the proble...In response to the above comment about the problems associated with shallow soils and earth-sheltered designs, I would say that when you can't dig down into the native soil for whatever reason, it should be possible to bring in soil to accomplish the berming or earth-sheltering and have the same benefit. <BR/><BR/>As for the possible adverse effects of moisture associated with below grade spaces, it is necessary to isolate the below grade structure with both an effective moisture barrier and adequate insulation to avoid interior condensation or the intrusion of moisture. If the water table is too high, then the previous comment pertains.Kelly Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02361024047813227599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-1154502333706132862006-08-02T01:05:00.000-06:002006-08-02T01:05:00.000-06:00Glad to have stumbled upon your post tonight. I a...Glad to have stumbled upon your post tonight. I am a (young and aspiring)facilities MEP engineer for a major engineering consulting firm in TX, and my passion is green design. Earth shelter design definitely has its merits, but with those merits comes new hurdles as well. For example, the relatively shallow depth of rock formations in the Austin area make basements impractical, so how would Earthen shelters be practical in similar light? Also, moisture control issues associated with typical (below-grade) interior spaces could offset sensible cooling load reduction with heavily increased latent load, correct?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9745391.post-1148578458580656982006-05-25T11:34:00.000-06:002006-05-25T11:34:00.000-06:00Mr. Hart. I work for an award-winning national hom...Mr. Hart. I work for an award-winning national home builder out of Houston. I have been studying sustainable housing for a while. I was awestruck by your earthbag design with the tree integrated into the roof and a south-facing wall integrated into the earth. I would like to experiment with this construction on my own property with a serious end game of building similar structures in the North Texas area n of Dallas and west of Denton. I intend to purchase a plan soon and will start slowly on my present property with some wall perimeter construction and maybe reinforcing a barn. My objective is to offer an alternative living experience to the country people in North Texas... to live a simpler life. I enjoy your grit and also like your sunvee! Take care, sir. <BR/>Sincerely, Frank WilliamsonFrank Williamsonnoreply@blogger.com